Warp knitting machine



Oct. 31,1944. R. BASSIST I 2,361,526

WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1943 2 Shets-Sheet l TT J.

1 PATTERN 58 4Q 57 CAM SHAFT 9 WARP EAM l' v ELLIPTICAL lNPUT5 FROMREGULATORY MEANS GEARS L f v f t DlFFERENTIAL FROM c M N02 DIFFERENTIAL129 A SHAFT OUTPUT 78 7 126 I OUTPUT I DIFFERENTIAL CHANGE SPEED umvmcMEMBER OF CONTROL ggg CHANGE SPEED DEVICE 2 L] Y FROM DEVICE 13 J26PATTERN v 28 common. Q3 L SPEED INVENTOR 7REoucE Kadol okflassis DRWENMEMBER OF WARP BEAM BY CHANGE SPEED DEVICE g 4 2 22 AT ORNEY v fla I44R. BASSIST 2,361,526

WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1943 Oct; 31, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f1 .5; INPUTS FROM q v REGULATORY MEANS FROM CAMDIFFERENTIAL INPuTs FROM REGULATORY MEANS J51 DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUTELLIPTICAL No. I

CHANGE sPEED OUTPUT CONTROL CHANGE 7 SPEED SPEED V DEVICE J REDucE'R IWARP BEAM I SPEED REDucER 24 3 WARP BEAM INPUTS FROM REGULATORY MEANSDIFFERENTIAL PATTERN No.2 CONTROL m FROM PAITERN OUTPUT SPEED R'EDUCERWARP BEAM CHANGE sPEED l CHANGE I CONTROL SPEED 24 DEVICE.

sPEED "REDUCER I WARP BEAM 23 INVENTOR I .BaSJZ BY ATTORN S ts-maPatented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT WARP KNITTING MACHINERudolph Bassist, New York, N; Y., assignor of forty-five per cent tohimself, ten per cent to Harold H. Stern, twenty-two and one-half percent to Edith Abrams, and twenty-two and onehalf per cent to EdithApril, New York, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1943, Serial No. 133,382

19 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to knitting machines and hasparticular reference to socalled warp knitting machines.

While certain phases of my invention are not necessarily restricted totheir applicability to any operate in a predetermined intermittentmanner to interengage the threads to produce a knitted fabric of thejersey? type. The yarn is directed to the needles by one or more guidebars through which the individual strands are threaded and by meansoftvhich the threads are looped v around the needles or otherwisesubjected to their operation, in a predetermined manner and sequencedepending upon the particular pattern or style of knitted fabric whichis to be produced.

In order that my invention may be better understood, 1 will preface thisdescription by outlining, in a general way, the mode of operation 7 andcooperation of the main pairt's'of a warpknitting machine.

A main driving shaft (hereinafter referred to as a cam shaft) isassociated with means for intermittently moving the needles through theknitting cycle.

ment is an up-and-down movement. Thread Generally speaking, this move--For example, assuming that only one warp beam is employed, the guide-barmay be moved so as to loop a strand around one needle during one course,around an adjacent needle during the next course, then around thefirst-mentioned needle again during the third course, and 'so on Or,depending upon the fabric desired, the guidebar may loop a strand aroundone needle forgone course, then shift longitudinally and loop the strandaround a needle at a distance from the first for the second course, andthen shift again either in the same or reverse direction to loop thestrand around a third selected needle for the third course, and so on.A-large number of dlfierent optional cycles are possible, dependingupon, the results desired in the finished product.

In each case, however, the longitudinal movement. of the guide-barrequires that a certain amount of yarn be made available to it, theexact amount being dependent upon the extent of the longitudinalmovement of the guide-bar; and

l during each forward-and-back or swinging movement of the guide-bar arelatively reduced amount of thread should be made available to it. Thegreater the-accuracy with which the yarn feed corresponds to themoment-to-moment fluctuatingyarn demands of the guide-bar, the moresmoothly and efllciently will the machine operate.

The machine may employ either one, two or three warp beams, possiblymore. The simplest type of fabric is produced by the employment of only'a single warp beam. A diflerent type of fabric would result fromtheemployment .of two warp beams, it being understood that there is issuitably looped around the needles while they I are in their upwardpositions, and when the needles move downwardly they perform a knittingoperation, with the aid of'a presser bar, a

.sinker, and other suitable auxiliary parts which are well known per se.Each guide bar is provided with a corresponding number of needlesthrough which the strands coming from the warp beam are threaded.Actuated by the cam shaft is a means for imparting a predeterminedintermittent movement to the guide-bar, one comusually a separateguide-bar for each warp beam. Where a filler thread, or more accurately,an

unknitted warp thread, is to be associated with the fabric for thepurpose of forming loops other ornamental effects, it is customary toemploy one or two warp beams to produce the so" called ground fabric,and to employ a separate ponent of movement being in a. substantiallyforward-and-back direction, the other component of movement beinglongitudinal. These movements of the guide-bar are so timed andcontrolled, relative to the needle operation, that the .strands aresuitably looped around or otherwise subjected to the action of theneedles in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

warp beam for theadditional warp thread. In such case, the guide-barthrough which the latter strands are threaded will have its movements socontrolled that these strands are brought into proper relationship tothe needles, 'and to the strands of the ground fabric, in apredetermined manner.

For the sake of simplicity, the features of the present invention willbe described in connection with asingle warp beam and a singleguide-bar,

1 although it will be understood, as hereinbefore pointed out, that'morethan .one warp beam may be employed if necessary or desirable.

In the conventional type of warp knitting materim periods.

is produced in the fabric.

chine, one of the shortcomings has arisen from the fact that the threadsare drawn from the warp beam by a pulling action initiated by theneedles themselves and by the guide-bar which controls the dispositionof the yarn with respect to the needles. The warp beam is generallyprovided with some sort of brake or equivalent clutch mechanismoperated, by the pull of the yarn, whereby the warp beam is released forrotation whenever the knitting cycle calls for thread,and whereby-it issecured against rotation in the in- This arrangement has numerousdisadvantages and imposes severe limitations upon the knittingoperations. For example, the interdependence between yarn feed and fwarp beam rotation restricts the types of fabric that maybe produced.Also, any stopping or starting of the machine as a whole produces anirregularity in the knittingoperation whereby an undesirable line orstreak known as a stop-mark" The latter disadvan'- tage often causesmaterial impairment of the commercial value of the fabric, and itmanifests itself most frequently in the high-speed machines to which myinvention has primary reference,

and in cases where the yam is of the relatively slippery character ofrayon or the like. V

In my Patent No. 2,303,903, Idisclosed a means whereby thesedisadvantages, and others, are successfully overcome, one of thecharacterising features ofthe improved machine residing in the fact thatthe warp beam is continuously rotated in yarn-feeding direction in apredetermined timed relationship with respect to the knitting cycle, butindependent of any pulling action upon or by the yarn itself.

' In my co-pending patent application Ser. No. 467,188 (now Patent No.2,334,058), I described a 2,ae1,c2e

of time, to produce fabrics having widely different and unique patternsand designs, the thread feed being always accurately correlated with thevarying moment-to-moment yarn requirements of the knittinginstrumentalities.

Briefly, the present improvements reside in the provision of at leastone differential interposed in'the driving transmission between the camshaft and the warp beam, the output being in driving relation to thewarp beam, the inputs of the differential being operatively connected toone or more regulatory'means for imposing the desired components ofmovement upon the warp further improvement and reflnementof this generaltype of machine, whereby there is imposed upon a continuously rotatingwarp beam a regular fluctuating component of movement intended tosynchronize the thread feed with the fluctuating requirements of theneedles and guide-bars. I disclosed the employment, in the warp beamtransmission, of a mechanism (exemplified by a guide-bar demands, issubject to certain limita tions arising from the fact that any selectedset of meshing non-circular gears, or other equivalent mechanism of thischaracter, is restricted to a fluctuating output of too regular a character.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide certainfurther improvements which permit an even wider range of adjustments tobe effected in the timing of the'threa'd feed and its synchronizationwith the yarn requirements of the guide-bars and needles. As a result, awarp knitting machine incorporating the structural innovations of thepresent invention is capable of producing a wider variety of differentknitted fabrics and patterns, many of which have not heretofore beencapable of manufacture at all by means of 'a warp knitting machine. By

beam. a I a The machine preferably includes also an adjustalbechange-speed device of the character described and illsutrated in myaforementioned patent, this device being of the character whichcomprises rotating driving and driven members whose relative speeds ofrotation are adjustable during continuous operation thereof. Thisdevice, interposed in the transmission to the warp beam, afiords afurther opportunity for controlling and adjusting the warp beammovements and permits the employment of a second differential whoseoutput is operatively connected to the adjusting member so that variousregulatory means may be 'operatively connected to permit manual orautomatic adjustments in accordance with a predetermined plan.

Iachieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and I providefortheembodiment of the foregoing features, and others, in a practicalmachine, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a warp knittingmachine employing certain of the features of the present'invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of diagrammatic character of apattern control such as that shownat the right end of Figure1,'il1ustrating the mechanism which it may actuate in accordance withthe present invention;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of mechanism in oneembodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing one type of regulatorymeans forDifferential No. 1" shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 3 showing amodification; I V Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 5showing another modification; and

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing further modifications,respectively, in which no change-speed device is employed.

Referring for the moment to Figure l, I have illustrated certain partsof a warp knitting machine of the character to which my presentinvention has primary reference. Mounted within the confines of asuitable framework 20 is a main driving shaft or cam shaft 2|. Thisshaftextends in a longitudinal direction with respect to the macht'ne asa whole, and it is driven by a motor or by any other suitable motivepower (not shown) in well-known fashion.v It carries such mounted in anysuitable manner for rotation which are now made available, a warpknitting machine'is capable of operating smoothly and about anaxislongitudinally arranged with respect to the machine. In the conventionalmachine. this warp beam (together with one or more efilciently, athigh'speeds and for long perio s-16 a n l W rp beams) is mounted uponthe in a predetermined mined magnitudes as the follower 51 is pushed tothe left or right under the actions of the pattern wheel 55 and thespring 58. 4

' merely illustrative of menses framework it, usually in the upperregion of the machine. In accordance with my present invention, however,it is possible to mount this warp beam in an independent support orframework (not shown) at the rear of the machine. This is l of greatimportance since much larger warp beams may be employed, and since thetremendous weight of the beams is thus removed from any possibility ofimpairing the smooth highspeed operation of the knitting machine with a.

minimum of vibration.

v in the appended claims, is intended to refer gen- In accordance withmy invention, this warp beam is continuously rotated by-means of atransmission which ultimately derives its motive power from the camshaft2!. This transmission may in greater detail.

Mounted in the machine in well-known manner is a needle-bar Q4.Projecting upwardly from it are needles by means of which the knittingoperation is performed. This needle bar is intermittently operated bythe cam shaft 2| to move the needles through the desired knitting'cyclewhich is well known per se. 'iAny suitable mechanism may be employed foraccomplishing this purpose. as illustratively exemplified in Figure 3 ofmy aforementioned patent 2,334,058.

Mounted in proximity to the needles is a guidebar 42 which carries aplurality of downwardly assume various forms, hereinafter to beexplained projecting teeth or equivalent elements which are adapted tomove in a forward-and-back direction within the spaces between theneedles of the needle bar. This component of movement of the guide-baris under the control of the cam shaft 2!, by means of any suitablewell-known mechanism illustratively exemplified in Figure 2 of myaforementioned patent 2,334,058.

The guide-bar is usually provided with brackets such as those shown atthese brackets being articulated to hangers B0 in such a manner that theguide-bar 42 can also be subjected to longitudinal shifting movements.These movements are also under the control of the cam shaft 2|. throughthe intermediary of a suitable drive mechanism such as a worm 52 and aworm wheel 53.

in the form of a pattern wheel 55 mounted on the shaft 54 of the wormwheel 83, the pattern wheel being thus slowly and continuously rotated.The periphery of the pattern wheel 55 is provided with a predeterminedseries of raised and depressed portions, and the end of the guide-bar isprovided with a follower 51 which is constantly pressed against thewheel in a yieldable manner by means of the spring 58 or the like.tudlnal movements are imparted to the guide-bar sequence and ofpredetere periphery of the pattern erally to an alterable pattern Wheelor chain or Q equivalent instrumentality of this general char- 1 actor.

The yarn from the warp beam is directed in suitable fashion to theguide-bar, each strand being threaded through one of the teeth of theguide-bar. The movements of the guide-bar,

both forward-and-back and longitudlnaLcontrol the disposition of thisyarn with respect to the needles, looping it successively aroundpredetermined needles, or otherwise bringing it into I the range ofoperation of the needles, or into association with strands emanatingfrom other warp beams, all in accordance with apredetermined plan orpattern which manifests itself in the-operative-contour of the patternwheel at. Simultaneously, the needles, operating in timed relationshipwith the guide-bar, perform the actualknitting operation, a knittedfabric being thus produced, course by course; and being wound up on asuitable roller '(not shown) at the for- .45 This drive mechanismactuates a suitable pattern control which I have chosen to illustratewardportion of the machine.

It is obvious that this mode of operation imposes varying requirementsupon the thread feed.

Thus, whenever the guide-bar is moving to loop the strands around theneedles, or otherwise to bring the strands into the range of theknitting operation, yarn must be-made available; and during thoseinterim periods during which the medles are knitting or otherwiseincorporating the yarn into the fabric, the demand for thread feed ismomentarily diminished. Similarly, whenever the guide-bar is movinglongitudinally through relatively large distances (skipping for example,from one needle to another selected needle some distance away), thedemand for yarn is correspondingly greater than during otherlongitudinal' movements of the guide-bar which are of lesser magnitude.In accordance with my present invention, it is possible to'conform theyarn feed with considerable accuracy to these varying requirements,notwithstanding the fact that the warp beam'is continuously .rotatedquite independentiy of any clutch or brake mechanism de- Accordingly,certain longi- The projections and depressions of the pattern r wheelmay be integral portions of the wheel or. 1

as is preferable, they may be provided for by means of suitable elementsor links separably' mounted on the pattern wheel in predetermined Apattern wheelof.- this.

spaced relationships.

general character is well known per se, and'is a general type .ofpattern control which may be employed for the purpose.

For example, a continuously moving chain, or

pending for'itso'peration upon any pulling eiiect of the yarn itself.

The general manner in which the desired synchronization of the yarnjeedand yarn requirements may be accomplished by means of thepresent'invention is indicated in a diagrammatic fashion in Figure 3. Itwill be observed that the warp beam 22 is driven by a transmission whichincludes a speed reducer 2t and several controllable or regulatoryelements. one of these is the change-speed device 23 which may be of anyvwell-known character, e. g., "Re'evesdrive? The details of such a driveare well known per se and are exemplified in Figure 5 of myaforementioned Patent 2,334,058. Brief-v .ly, the drive comprises apulley member mounted .on the driving shaft 27, a pulley membermounted-on the driven shaft 28. and a rotatable cona conventionaltrolmember or shaft 10. The driving and driven members are. connected bya belt and comprise pulleys of suitable character whose effectivediameters are relatively adjustable by means of regulator rotations ofthe control shaft it in" one direction or the other, whereby any drelationship (within the range which the device affords) may be broughtabout, depending upon requirements, during a continuous operation of thetransmission. i

The output or driving shaft 28 of the changespeeddevice is operativelyconnected to the speed reducer. The input or driving shaft 21, is underthe control of selected regulatory means, and the adjustment'shaft I9 issimilarly under the control of selected regulatory means. In Figure 3, Ihave shown a preferred arrangement in which a difierential I25 has itsoutput I26 operatively connected (e. g., by meshing bevelled gears I21), to thedriving member 21 of the change-speed device, and in which asimilar differential 15 has its output shaft 18 'operatively connectedin a similar manner to the control shaft I of the change-speed device.In the :present drawings, the differential I25 is designated asDiflerential No. 1 while differential 1-6 is designated Differential No.2.

Each of the differentials is of well-known character such as that whichis commonly employed,.for example, in association with the rear axle ofan automobile. Since the internal parts of the motive power of such adifferential mechanism are well known, I have deemed it sufficientmerely to indicate two input driving shafts in each case and asingle'output shaft. Using the automobile analogy, theinput'shaftscorrespond to those which commonly extend respectively to the rearwheels of the automobile.

'whilethe'output shaft corresponds to the transmission shaft extendingto the'engine. However, whereas the automobile difi'erential imposes theinput power through the transmission shaft and derives the correspondingoutput in equal or varying degrees at the rear wheels, each of thepresent differential'mechanisms is employed in a reverse fashion. In thecase of the differential I25, a regulatory motive power is applied toone or both of the input shafts I28 and I29 while the resultanteifect'is withdrawn from the output shaft I25 and transmittedtothechange-speed device. In'the case of the differential 15, aregulatory input is operatively connected to one or both of the inputshafts 16 and 11, while the resultant output is derived from the'outputshaft 18 which is operatively connected to the adjusting member III ofthe change-speed device.

The inputs to the shaft I6 and 11 of "Differential No. 2, maybe, forexample, of the character illustrated and described in my aforementionedPatent 2,334,058 whereby "the shaft I6 derives motive power from areversible electrical motor or the like, whose operation is controlledby a suitable pattern control, while the shaft 11 derives motive powerfrom a mechanism which is automaticallv adjusted to compensate for thediminishing diameter of the warp beam as thread is withdrawn therefrom.The motive power applied to the input shafts I28 and I29 of DifferentialNo. 1 may be, for example, of the character illustrated most clearlyinFigures 2 and 4. Referring to Figure 4, it will be observed that Ihave shown the input shaft I28 operatively connected (e. g., by bevelledgears conventional accuses tuating character. The driving member of thismechanism is connected in any suitable fashion with the cam shaft of theknitting machine, as

indicated at I32. By properly designing and selecting the driving anddriven members of this mechanism, such as the elliptical gears I 3Iillustratively shown in Figure 4, a predetermined rotation of the camshaft 2| of the knitting machine at uniform angular velocity can becaused to imposeupon the input shaft I28 of Differential N0. 1, andultimately upon the driven warp beam 22, a fluctuating component ofmovement which conforms with certain basic fluctuating. demands of theneedles and the guide-bar, thus "setting the tempo, as it 'were, of theyarn feed.

Theinput shaft I 29 of Differential No. i may derive a regulatory powerby means of a mechanism such as shown most clearly in Figure 2. Mountedon a shaft I33 is a ratchet wheel I34 with which two driving pawls I35are associated. Driving links I36 connect these pawls with areciprocating member I3! which is constantly urged in one di'rectionby aspring I38 or the likeand which carries a follower I39 which rides upona suitable pattern control I49 driven by the cam shaft 2I. Thispatterncontrol is of the same general character as that shown at 55 inFigure 1, and may in fact consist of this self-same instrumentality. Ihave shown for example how the .reciprocated member I31 .may be directlyconnected to a guide-bar I4I to control the longitudinal back-and-forthmovements of the guide-bar as the follower I39 rides upon theprojections and depressions, or equivalent convolutions, of the patterncontrol I40. During these movements ofthe reciprocating member I31, theratchet wheel I34 is intermittently advanced in the direction-of thearrow shown in Figure 2, regardless of the direction of movement of themember I31. Thus when the follower I39 encounters a projection whichmoves the member I31 to theleft (as viewed in Figure 2) the lower pawlI35 advances the ratchet I34 while the upper pawl rides freely withouteffect upon the ratchet; and whenever the follower I39 encounters adepression which permits the spring I38 to move the member I31 to theright (as viewed in Figure 2) the upper pawl I35 becomes operative togive an impetus to the ratchet I34 while the lower shifting movements of"the guide-bar in predeter- I30 or the like) with a pair of meshingnoncircular gears I3I. I have chosen to show these mined manner,-sothat, for example, if the guidebar. moves for a relatively longdistance, the ratchet I34 will move by a correspondingly reater amount,while if the guide-bar movesthrough a smaller distance the ratchet I34will rotate through a correspondingly smaller amount.

It may also be desirable under certain circume stances to use twoseparate pattern controls but to arrange them on a singleinstrumentality. For example, a pattern control may be employed whichactuatesthe guide-bar by means, of a fol lower riding on the peripheryof a wheel such as that shown at 55 in Figurel or at I49 in Figure 2,

. while the actuation of the ratchet mechanism may simultaneously becontrolled by a foliower which rides in a cam groove formed in the sidecally to be knitted into the fabric.

asensae wall of the pattern wheel. The guide-bar movements, in such acase, would be responsive to the elevations and depressions on theperiphery of the pattern wheel, a spring such as that shown at B inFigure 1 or at I38 in Figure 2 serving to yieldably hold the followerdown against the pattern control. The ratchet movements, however, wouldrequire no such springy assistance and would be governed solely by theconvolutions of the cam groove formed in the pattern wheel.

By operatively connecting the shaft I33 (through the intermediary ofbevelled gears I42 or the like) with the input shaft I29 of Differential No. 1, as indicated in Figure 4, a fluctuate sion mechanism whichleads ultimately to the warp beam.

As a specific example, let it be assumed that the fabric being knittedisone in 'which the major portion of the fabric consists of a simpleuniform pattern, while a special design (requiring unusually extensiveguide-bar movements) is periodi- During the knitting of the simplepattern, the elliptical gears I3I continuously impose upon the warp beama fluctuating movement which feeds the yarn in synchronism with thecourse-by'course fluctuating demands of the guide-bar, and during thistime, the rotative movement of the ratchet I34 is of uniform charactersince the guide-bar is moving back and forth through more or lessuniform distances. When the time is reached when the guide-bar is movedthrough the unusually great distances to produce the special design orpattern, a correspondingly greater movement is imparted to the ratchetI34, and this added increment manifests itself in greater movement ofthe warp beam 22 by virtue of the fact that the increased movement ofthe ratchet I34 is superimposed through the differential I25, upon thenormal fluctuations imposed by the elliptical gears. At all times,therefore, regardless of the special or unusual character of the designor pattern which is being knitted by the machine, the rotation of thewarp beam 22 is accurately in synchronism with the moment-to-momentdemands of the guide-bar for varying or fluctuating amounts of yarn.

arranged in Figure 5 and in my aforementioned Patent 2,334,058) hascertain disadvantages and limitations. In accordance with my presentinvention, these limitations may be avoided by supplanting theelliptical gears of Figure 5 with the mechanism shown in Figure 2. Thisresults in an arrangement of parts as shown in Figure 6. In this figure,the shaft I33 of the mechanism of Figure2 is connected directly to thedriving member 21 of the change-speed device 23. The other elementsshown in Figure 6 are the same as in Figures 3 and 5 and the samereference numerals have therefore been applied. In the arrange- InFigures 5-and 6 I haveillustrated two possible modifications of thetransmission in which Differential No. 1" has been completely omitted.In

Figure 5, for example, the transmission is the same as in Figure 3except that the elliptical gears I3I (or equivalent mechanism) are con--nected directly to the driving shaft 21 of the change-speed device 23.In other respects the elements of Figure 5 are the same as those shownin Figure 3, and the same reference numerals have therefore beenapplied. This arrangement of parts is identical with one of theembodiments illustrated in my aforementioned Patent 2,334,- 058 and isshown in the present drawings merely for comparative purposes.

The regularity of the fluctuating component of movement imposed by theelliptical gears (as ment of Figure 6, the fluctuating movements imposedupon the driving member 21 are more accurately in synchronism with thefluctuating demands of the guide-bar regardless of the varying nature orcomplexity of the guide-bar movements.

The use of Differential No. 1" as shown in Fig ures 3 and 4 is apreferable arrangement, because it simultaneously affords the advantagesof the elliptical gears or equivalent mechanism (as described more fullyin my aforementioned Patent 2,334,058), and'the mechanism of Figure 2 ofthe present drawings which responds so completely to the desired patterncontrol. This latter mechanism however, has certain advantages'which maybe independently resorted to, as indicated in Figure 6, and thearrangement of Figure 6 is therefore illustrated to show thepossibility, under certain circumstances, of employing the mechanism ofFigure 2 without necessarily employing either a differential or anyelliptical gears or equivalent mechanism.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have illustrated'several modifications in whichthe change-speed device is dispensed with. The use of this device ishighly desirable, since it affords an additional opportunity forimposing various selected regula-' tions to the yarn feed. However,under certain circumstances, the transmission may be employed withoutthe change-speed device.

In Figure 7, for example, I have shown "Diflerential No. 1" connecteddirectly to the speed re-. ducer 24 through the intermediary of meshinggears I42 or the like. In this case, the inputs of the differential maybe connected to any desired regulatory means such as those shown, by wayof example, in Figure 4.

In Figure 8, I have shown the manner in which the mechanism of Figure 2may be operatively connected directly to the speed reducer 24 by meansof meshing gears I43. This is the simplest arrangement under which thevariations of a pattern control may be caused to bring about acorresponding pattern of movement of the warp beam.

It will thus be observed that I have provided various means wherebyselected regulating devices may be employed for the purpose of achievingthe basic objective. Where a change-speed device is included in thetransmission, and where two differentials are employed, as shown mostclearly in Figure 3, an opportunity is afforded for controlling the warpbeam movements with great accuracy and in accordance with any of a largenumber of different predetermined patterns. It will be understood, ofcourse, that the difierential may in each case comprise more than twoinput shafts, and that any suitable regulatory means may be operativelyconnected to one or more of might under certain circumstances beoperatively connected to one of the inputs of Diiierential No. 1. Or,one of the inputs of one or the other of the difierentials might beoperatively connected to a manual control by means of which certainadded increments of movement could be manu ally contributed to theresultant movements-of the warp beam to compensate for possible extrarequirements of certain special circumstances or periods of operation,as for example in the initial starting of the machine from a period ofcomplete rest.

It desired, it might prove useful under certain circumstances to arrangetwo or more difierentials in series relationship, the ultimate objectivebeing in each case to achieve a resultant fluctuating movement of thewarp beam which is as accurately as possible responsive to themoment-tomoment fluctuating requirements of the guidebar.

It will also be understood that the mechanically-operated ratchetmechanismshown in Figure 2. is offered merely by way of example and thatany ratchet mechanism or equivalent instrumentality might be empioyedfor the same purpose, whether driven or controlled electrically,electronically, electromagnetically, by hydraulic means, or otherwise.

In general, it will be understood that the 'details herein described andillustrated may be modified by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope oi the invention as expressed in theappended claims. It is therefore 1 intended that these details beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles throughthe knittingcycle, and a movable guide-bar controlline the disposition of said yarnwith respect to the needles; a driving transmission from the cam shaftto said warp beam; mechanism in said transmission ior imposing a regularfluctuating component or movement upon the warp beam; an alterablepattern control driven by the cam shaft;

and means in said transmission actuated by said a cam shaft for movingthe needles through the knitting cycle, and a movable guide-barcontrolling the disposition of said yarn with re-.

spect to the needles; a driving transmission from the cam shaft to saidwarp beam; mechanism in said transmission for imposing a regularfluctuating component of movement upon the warp beam; an alterablepattern control driven by the cam shaft; means in said transmissionactuated by said pattern control for imposing a supplemental fluctuatingcomponent of movement upon the warp beam; and means also actuated bysaid pattern control for intermittently moving said guide-bar incooperative relation to the needle movements. v

5. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 1,said transmission including a differential whose output is in drivingrelation to the warp beam, one input of the differential beingoperatively connected to said mechanism, another input of thedifferential being operatively connected to said means which is actuatedby the pattern control. 7

6. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 1,said transmission including an adjustable change-speed device and adifferential, said device comprising rotating driving and driven memberswhose relative speeds of rotation are adjustable during continuousoperation thereof, the driven member beingin driving relation to. thewarp beam, the driving member being operatively connected to the out- Iput of said diflerential, one input of the dinerential being operativelyconnected to said mechanism, another input of the differential beingoperatively connected to said means which is rotation are governed byrotation of an adjusting member, the driven member being in drivingrelation to the warp beam, the driving member being operativelyconnected to the output of said diflerential, one input of thediflerential being operatively connected to said mechanism, an-

- other, input 01 the differential being operatively said mechanismbeing of the character which comprises rotating driving and drivenmembers wherein a fluctuating angular velocity is imparted to the drivenmember relative to that of the driving member; an alterable patterncontrol driven by the cam shaft; and means in said transmission actuatedby said pattern control for imposing a supplemental fluctuatingcomponent of movement upon the warp beam.

3. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 2,said mechanism comprising a pair or meshing non-circular gears.

4. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto,

connected to said means which is actuated by the pattern-control; andmeans for'automatically rotating said adjusting member in accordancewith a predetermined plan during continuous operationoi saidtransmission.

8. In a warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 1,said transmission including an adjustable change-speed device and adiiferential, said device comprising rotating driving and driven memberswhose relative speeds of rotation are governed by rotation of an ad-,lusting member, the driven member being in driving relation to the warpbeam, the driving als a accuse needles, a warp beam furnishing yarnthereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle,and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn withrespect to the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by thecamshaft; and means actuated by said pattern control for imposing uponthe warp beam a fluctuating component of movement which corresponds tothe fluctuating demands for yarn of said guide-bar; said meanscomprising a ratchet operatively connected in driving relation to thewarp beam, and a, driving pawl actuated by said pattern control.

10. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knittingcycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarnwith re spect tothe needles: an alterable pattern control driven by thecam shaft; means actuated by said pattern control for intermittentlymoving said guide-bar in cooperative relation to the needle movements;and means also actuatedby said 'pattem control for imposing upon thewarp beam as fluctuating component of movement which corresponds to thefluctuating demands for yarn of said guide-bar.

11. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knittingcycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarnwith respect to the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by thecam shaft; an adjustable change-speed device comprising rotating drivingand driven members whose relative speeds of rotation are adjustableduring continuous operation thereof, the driven member being in drivingrelation to the warp beam; and means actuated by said pattern controlfor imposing upon the driving member of said change-speed device afluctuating component of movement which corresponds to the fluctuatingdemands for yarn of said guidebar.

12. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto,,a I

cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and amovable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respectto the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by the cam shaft; anadJustable change-speed device comprising rotating driving and drivenmembers whose relative speeds of rotation are adjustable duringcontinuous operation thereof, the driven member being in drivingrelation to the warp beams; means actuated by said pattern con- I trolfor intermittently moving said guide-bar in cooperative relation to theneedle movements; and means also actuated by said pattern control forimposing upon the driving member 01 said change-speed device a,fluctuating component of movement which corresponds to the fluctuatingdemands for yarn 'of said guide-bar.

13. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knittingcycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarnwith respect to the needles: an alterable pattern control driven by thecam shaft; a differential whose output is in driving relation to thewarp beam; and means actuated by said pattern control for imposing a 9.In a warp knitting machine including fluctuating component of movementupon one input of said 'diiferential; whereby selected regulatory meansmay be operatively connected to one a cam shaft fcrmoving the needlesthrough the or more other inputs of said differential.

14. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto, a

cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and amovable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respectto the needles: a driving transmission from the cam shaft to the Warpbeam; said transmission including a differential whose output is indriving relation to the warp beam; and a mechanism driven i by the camshaft for imposing a regular fluctuating component of movement upon oneinput of said differential; whereby selected regulatory means may beoperatively connected to one or more other inputs of said differential.

15. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto, a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knittingcycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarnwith respect to the needles: a driving transmission from the cam shaftto the warp beam; said transmission including a differential whoseoutput is in driving relation to the warp beam; and a mechanism drivenby the cam shaft for imposing a regular fluctuating component ofmovement upon one input of said'diiferential, said mechanism being ofthe character which comprises rotating driving and driven memberswherein a fluctuating angular velocity is imparted to the driven memberrelativeto that of the driving member; whereby selected regulatory meansmay be operatively con nected to one or more other inputs of saiddifferential.

16. In a'warp knitting machine, the combination set forth in claim 15,said mechanism comprising a pair of meshing non-circular gears.

17. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto,

knitting cycle, and a movable guide-bar controlling the disposition ofsaid yarn with respect to the needles: a driving transmission, from thecam shaft to said warp beam, said transmission including an adjustablechange-speed device and a differential, said device comprising rotatingdrlving and driven members whose relative speeds of rotation areadjustable during continuous operation thereof, the driven member beingin driving relation to the warp beam, the driving member beingoperatively connected to the output of said differential; and amechanism driven by the cam shaft for imposing a regular fluctuatingcomponent of movement upon one input of said dilTerential; wherebyselected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or moreother inputs of said differential.

18. In a warp knitting machine including needles, a warp beam furnishingyarn thereto,

a cam shaft for moving the needles through the knitting cycle, and amovable guide-bar controlling the disposition of said yarn with respectto the needles: a driving transmission from the cam shaft to said warpbeam, said transmission including an adjustable change-speed device anda differential, said. device comprising rotating driving members whoserelative speeds of rotation are governed by rotation of an adjustingmember, the driven member being in driving relation to the warp beam,the driving 'member being operatively connected to the output of saiddifferential; a mechanism driven by the cam shaft for imposing upon oneinput of said diiferential, whereby se lected regulatory means may beoperatively connected to one or more other inputs oi said differential;and means iorautomatically rotating said adjusting member in accordancewith a predetermined plan during continuous operation oisaidtransmission.

19. In a warp knitting machine including I a regular fluctuatingcomponent .of -movement member, the driven member being in drivingrelation to the warp beam, the driving member being operativelyconnected to the output 0! said differential; a mechanism driven by thecam shaft for imposing a regular fluctuating component of movement uponon input of said differential, whereby selected regulatory means may beoperatively connected to one or more other inputs of said differential;and means for automatically rotating said adjusting member in accordancewith a predetermined plan during continuous operation of saidtransmission, said last-named means comprising a second diflerentialwhose output is operatively connected to said adjusting member, wherebyselected regulatory means may be operatively connected to one or more ofth inputs of said second differential. I

RUDOLPH BASSIST.

